Preventing Falls among Seniors
Elderly Persons Learn to Recognize Dangers that Lead to Falling
Jul 7, 2009
Elderly persons fall for many reasons, but some causes – such as poor sleep habits – may not be that obvious. Difficulty in moving about the home and walking with an unsteady gait are often the result of joint stiffening and/or sleep disturbances. Conditions such as osteoporosis and deterioration of mental abilities compromise balance and coordination. Unsafe surroundings can cause falling in the home, in public, and even in nursing facilities.
Seniors Can Learn to Recognize Conditions that Cause Falls in the Home
Persons of advanced age are prone to life-altering conditions, some of which may limit physical function and mobility. Medications and lack of sleep can cause confusion, slowed reflexes, and an unsteady gait. The potential for a dangerous fall increases with age. What can seniors do to reduce the risk of falling at home?
- Keep walkways free of clutter and small objects. This includes table skirting, floor-length draperies, and anything in which a mobility device (such as a cane or walker) can become entangled.
- Make sure lighting in the home and yard is sufficient.
- Install railings where steps are located indoors and outside.
- Install slip-resistant strips on stair steps.
- Use a tub mat in the bath and keep a slip-resistant bath rug on the floor.
- Install grab bars in the tub and toilet areas.
- Repair damaged flooring and carpet, and remove area rugs with no slip-resistant backing.
- Keep the kitchen grease-free and wipe up any spills immediately.
- Pay attention when mopping floors. Use no-rinse cleaners to avoid walking on the floor before it's dry.
- Avoid using step stools and ladders. Use a grabber tool to reach items in high places, or ask someone for help.
- Get enough of the right kind of sleep. Interrupted sleep patterns or fragmented sleep drains the body of energy and interferes with brain function. Sluggish reflexes, confusion, inattention, and poor walking gait in the elderly can all result from sleep deprivation.
- Wear sturdy shoes that fit and have low heels. Slippers can easily cause falls, and so can some sandals and flip-flops. Women are advised against wearing high heels and long skirts. Skirts can cause tripping, especially when going up and down steps.
- Use proper mobility aids prescribed by a physician.
- Keep weight under control. Obesity interferes with balance and can impede agility.
- Know the side-effects of medication. Dizziness and sleepiness can cause falling.
- Stay alert, even in familiar surroundings. Distractions and inattention can cause falls.
- Recognize that eyesight and hearing may not be what they used to be. Wear aids and devices to stay aware of surroundings.
How Can Seniors Prevent Falls Outside the Home?
Away from home, preventing falls is a matter of paying attention to the immediate surroundings. For example, visiting a grocery store after a good rain is recognized as a risky situation, considering the wet pavement in the parking lot and a wet floor just inside the store entrance. Wet floors are one of the top causes for falls among elderly persons.
- Find out as much as possible about the place being visited, particularly the accessibility. Learn ahead of time if there are barriers that may present a danger to someone with mobility problems.
- Stay aware of changes in surroundings, especially changes in terrain. Try to stay on level ground and watch for steps, holes, uneven sidewalks, curbs, tree roots, and slippery surfaces, just to name a few hazards. Remember the weather can affect walking surfaces, too.
- Use railings to maintain balance. Hold onto grab bars when available.
- Ask for help in dark restaurants and places where lighting and steps present a problem.
- Keep in mind the dangers that cause falls at home and apply the same caution in places away from home.
- Educate family members and caregivers. Watch out for toys, small children, pets, and other objects that may cause falls in the homes of friends and relatives.
- Recognize personal limitations and take responsibility for health and safety.
Through community programs for the aged, social service intervention, health fairs, and individual education, elderly individuals can learn to prevent falls before dangerous injuries happen. Therapists and qualified instructors teach seniors to recognize dangerous situations in the home as well as outside the home. Some service agencies like the United Way and Catholic Charities offer home modifications to make living conditions safe for senior citizens.
Falls in older persons can occur anywhere and can result in severe injury and even death. Caregivers and family members can help by learning how to recognize and prevent falls among older loved ones; in most cases, awareness is as simple as identifying and correcting potential areas of risk. Staying aware of the senior's daily routine and taking necessary precautions to prevent falls can help an elderly person stay safe and maximize independence.
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